What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).

Waterford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Highgate	Waterford
People
Population	3,528Highest	1,279Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	44±7.4Lowest about the VT average	45.4±5.3Highest 5% above VT
	Waterford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	16.7%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Waterford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%	21.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Highgate and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%	41%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Highgate and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average	$109,375±$19kHighest 35% above VT
	Waterford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT	$271,500±$22kLowest 14% below VT
	Highgate and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691 27% below VT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,558Lowest 29% below VT	$4,238Highest 16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4%	—
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	99%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 4 yrs newer than VT	1980 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 32% above VT	24 minLowest 4% above VT
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	15.3%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	Waterford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#43 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78
High school in town	Missisquoi Valley Union High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.